Sixty years ago today, a woman of 25 went up into Kenya’s Treetops Hotel a princess and came down a Queen.

Elizabeth II’s father King George VI had been sick for some time, but his death still came as a sudden shock. Canadians mourned a King who’d inaugurated the National War Memorial and gave a rousing public oration in Winnipeg — well before the one shown in The King’s Speech. George VI was the first reigning King to visit our shores; exploring the nation at a time when few Canadians had.

The accension of a new monarch combines tragedy with celebration, a country grieves and yet is full of hope because there is another to take up the mantle. Someone to carry on in a tradition that in Canada flows back from the Canadian Kings to the British before that and French before them.

When George VI’s daughter ascended the throne, Canada was the first to proclaim Elizabeth II Queen, beating out a large field of nations that share our allegiance. For the next 60 years the Queen has repayed that early gesture with unrelenting service to this country.

Canada honours that service this year with a series of celebrations starting Monday morning when the Queen’s personal Canadian flag will fly from atop the Peace Tower and every provincial and territorial assembly across the country.

[start_gallery][end_gallery]Heritage Minister James Moore holds out a new medal to commemorate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in Ottawa on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2011. CP/Sean Kilpatrick

The Canadian formal program begins at 10 a.m. at Rideau Hall where both the governor general and the prime minister are expected to speak to the Queen’s service. Following the words the GG will hand out the first 60 Diamond Jubilee Medals which honour those who have brought credit to Canada.

On Tuesday, the GG will travel to Parliament Hill and join the Speaker of the Senate in unveiling a new stain glass window, which honours the diamond jubilees of both Victoria and Elizabeth II in brillant colour (iPolitics got a sneak peak which you can view above).

On Wednesday the Speaker of the House will unveil a new statue of Her Majesty to grace the Commonwealth Room.

Visitors to Winterlude have already been treated to a giant jubilee logo carved in ice that is on display as part of the festivities. The Royal Canadian Mint and Canada Post have new coins and stamps to honour the occasion. Those hanging around Parliament Hill at noon will hear the Dominion Carillonneur, playing a special program of songs on the Peace Tower bells to honour the Queen.

In the coming weeks and months there will be all kinds of celebrations big and small including a visit by the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall.

There are those naturally who are not interested in such things. Those who will humbug the whole business. Clearly I am not one of those people but I think the jubilee year will have something for everyone. After all this is when people will see monarchy at it’s proudest.

The Queen’s jubilee message sums it all up:

In this special year, as I dedicate myself anew to your service, I hope we will all be reminded of the power of togetherness and the convening strength of family, friendship and good neighbourliness, examples of which I have been fortunate to see throughout my reign and which my family and I look forward to seeing in many forms as we travel throughout the United Kingdom and the wider Commonwealth.

Fate may have brought us together but mutual respect and perserversence have ensured that 60 years on, Canada’s Queen remains a rock of stability in an ever-shifting world. That’s reason enough to celebrate.

Follow Matt Rowe on Twitter for all the latest updates about Canada’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations